Texas Floods Leave 51 Dead, 15 Children Among Victims, as Rescue Efforts Intensify
Central Texas is grappling with a devastating crisis as flash floods have claimed the lives of at least 51 people, including 15 children. Rescue teams, numbering in the hundreds, are urgently searching for those still missing — particularly in Kerr County, the hardest-hit region where 43 lives have been lost. Tragically, 27 children from a Christian youth camp near the Guadalupe River remain unaccounted for.
Sheriff Larry Leitha of Kerr County emphasized the commitment of rescue teams, stating, “The work continues and will continue until everyone is found.”
Fatalities have also been reported in Travis County and Tom Green County. Flash flood warnings remain in effect across central Texas throughout the weekend, with more heavy rain expected.
So far, approximately 850 individuals have been rescued from the flood zones. During a press briefing on Saturday, Governor Greg Abbott announced an expanded disaster declaration to bolster ongoing search efforts. He reassured families that authorities are determined to find “every single person who’s been a victim of this event.”
Officials stress that this remains a search and rescue operation, not a recovery mission. Teams are combing the Guadalupe River by boat and foot in hopes of locating survivors who may have been swept away.
U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that federal authorities are coordinating closely with local responders.
The National Weather Service has warned that central Texas could see an additional 2 to 5 inches of rain on Saturday, with localized areas receiving up to 10 inches — worsening conditions in already ravaged zones.
A significant focus of rescue efforts is Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River. According to Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, many of the 27 missing girls are under 12 years old.
Photos from the camp reveal a scene of chaos — mud-covered mattresses, blankets, stuffed animals, and other personal items scattered throughout the grounds. Many of the children were asleep when the river surged over 26 feet in under an hour early Friday morning.
Camp Mystic, which hosts around 750 girls, emailed parents assuring them that if they hadn’t been contacted, and their child was safe and accounted for.
Heartbreaking Stories Emerge as Texas Flood Death Toll Rises
As the full impact of the Texas flash floods unfolds, more personal stories of loss are coming to light. Among the victims were children as young as eight, including sisters Blair and Brooke Harber, aged 13 and 11, whose deaths have now been confirmed.
In honor of those lost or still missing, a special Mass is set to take place at Notre Dame Catholic Church on Sunday, offering support to grieving families and communities.
The floods struck during what was meant to be a joyful Independence Day weekend. Many campers, enjoying summer retreats along the river, remain unaccounted for.
Lorena Guillen, a local whose home and restaurant were destroyed, had allowed 28 vacationers to park on her riverside property. Recalling the terrifying moments, she told the BBC she heard desperate screams from a family of five.
“They were being swept away,” she said. “They clung to trees waiting for rescue — but the responders couldn’t reach them in time.”
Parents from across the state rushed to the area in search of their children. Rachel Reed drove five hours from Dallas to pick up her daughter. With heartbreak in her voice, she shared that members of her church and school community were among the missing or confirmed dead.
“The families of those girls are living every parent’s worst nightmare,” she said. “It could have easily been me.”
Some families have begun returning to their devastated homes. Jonathan and Brittany Rojas visited what was once their relatives’ house — now reduced to a bare foundation. A mother and her baby from the family remain missing. Their teenage son, Leo, survived after becoming entangled in barbed wire.
For others like Anthony, the return home brought overwhelming loss. His apartment was filled with mud and debris, nearly everything ruined — except for a small box containing childhood photos and his baby blanket.
“I lost everything,” he said. “Now I’m just trying to figure out what to do next.”
Reporting by Iona Hampson in Texas and Ana Faguy in Washington.
